DotaLeak › Heroes › Ancient Apparition
Lost the game?Paste a match ID — we show who threw and why: deaths, lanes, items, map replay.
Ancient Apparition win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald52.1%
Guardian51.6%
Crusader52.6%
Archon52.0%
Legend51.5%
Ancient50.5%
Divine49.5%
Immortal—
Ancient Apparition is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Ancient Apparition
How to play Ancient Apparition against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs SnapfireStay out of Mortimer Kisses pools and away from point-blank Scatterblast; hit Snapfire first from range.43.7%
What to build against it
Force StaffPushes you out of the Cookie landing zone and Mortimer Kisses pools.
Glimmer CapeReduces magical damage from Scatterblast and globs and lets you escape invisible.
Ghost ScepterBlocks Lil' Shredder's physical damage when she dives you.
Pipe of InsightTeam barrier against her heavy AoE magic damage from ult and Scatterblast.
How to use the spells of Ancient Apparition
Cold FeetCast when she starts Mortimer Kisses; her reduced turn rate makes leaving the radius hard.
Ice VortexDrop it under Snapfire with Cold Feet; the slow keeps her inside the stun range.
Chilling TouchHarass with extended range, never entering point-blank Scatterblast distance.
Watch out for Snapfire
Mortimer KissesLeave pools immediately and don't clump with allies under the barrage.
Firesnap CookieAn ally or Mortimer can hop onto you with a stun; keep distance from her team.
vs LargoLargo heals and dispels; Ice Blast shuts off his healing, and time Cold Feet so Lick can't remove it.43.8%
What to build against it
Lotus OrbReflects the unit-target Catchy Lick back at Largo.
Force StaffGets you out of Frogstomp ministuns and away after a Lick pull.
Glimmer CapeCuts magical damage from froglings and songs.
Spirit VesselFurther cuts Island Elixir healing and Lick regeneration.
How to use the spells of Ancient Apparition
Ice BlastRelease at fight start; Frostbite stops healing, making Island Elixir useless.
Cold FeetCurse Largo himself during Amphibian Rhapsody or when Lick is on cooldown.
Ice VortexPlace it on Largo's group; the slow counters Hotfeet Hustle repositioning.
Watch out for Largo
Catchy LickDispels allies and pulls you; stay back and wait for him to burn Lick.
FrogstompMinistuns every second; walk out of the frog area immediately.
vs TuskTusk easily catches fragile AA; stay behind your team, watch for Snowball and avoid Walrus PUNCH.44.5%
What to build against it
Force StaffGets you out of Ice Shards walls and breaks punch range.
Ghost ScepterWalrus PUNCH's physical crit can't hit you in ethereal form.
Glimmer CapeReduces Snowball and Shards magic damage and helps you hide.
Aeon DiskSaves you from the Snowball into PUNCH burst.
How to use the spells of Ancient Apparition
Cold FeetCast when Tusk traps someone with Shards and attacks; he tends to stand still.
Ice VortexDrop it where Snowball lands; the slow stops him from chasing.
Ice BlastIce Blast pierces BKB; finish Tusk after he initiates and is deep.
Watch out for Tusk
Walrus PUNCH!Pierces BKB and launches you; never let him into attack range.
SnowballWithout vision he rolls in; position behind allies and ward approaches.
vs Skywrath MageSkywrath is fragile but bursty; strike first, walk out of Mystic Flare, and Release works while silenced.44.7%
What to build against it
Lotus OrbReflects unit-target Ancient Seal and Arcane Bolt.
Glimmer CapeMagic barrier vs all his damage and invisibility against Concussive Shot.
Force StaffInstantly moves you out of Mystic Flare.
Pipe of InsightTeam barrier against his magical burst.
How to use the spells of Ancient Apparition
ReleaseRelease works under Ancient Seal; launch the tracer early.
Ice VortexVortex amplifies magic damage; with Cold Feet it quickly kills fragile Skywrath.
Chilling TouchHarass with extra range to chip him before fights.
Watch out for Skywrath Mage
Ancient SealSilence plus amp; use items before seal and rely on Release.
Mystic FlareDamage splits among heroes in the area; leave immediately, don't stand alone.
vs BeastmasterBeastmaster wins with Roar and summons; cut Drums of Slom healing with Ice Blast and stay out of Roar range.45.5%
What to build against it
Lotus OrbReflects the unit-target Primal Roar back at Beastmaster.
Force StaffEscapes Raptor roots and Boar chase.
Ghost ScepterCuts physical attacks from Beastmaster and his units.
Glimmer CapeReduces magic damage from Wild Axes and Drums.
How to use the spells of Ancient Apparition
Ice BlastFrostbite blocks healing, so Drums of Slom stops sustaining him and his units.
Ice VortexPlace it on Beastmaster and his summons to damage and slow the pack.
Cold FeetCast while he throws axes and attacks from place.
Watch out for Beastmaster
Primal RoarPierces BKB; stay behind your team and never alone on the edge.
Summon RaptorsHawks root heroes; kill them or keep an escape item ready.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Ancient Apparition builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch23%
Tango15%
Blood Grenade13%
Faerie Fire9%
Sentry Ward8%
Smoke of Deceit7%
Magic Stick7%Early game
Boots of Speed78%
Arcane Boots11%
Tranquil Boots4%
Urn of Shadows3%Mid game
Arcane Boots27%Glimmer Cape10%Force Staff5%
Pavise3%Late game
Glimmer Cape14%Force Staff10%
Eul's Scepter of Divinity5%Situational items on Ancient Apparition: when to buy
red — heroes that counter Ancient ApparitionGlimmer CapeSave an ally from magic and focusEspecially vs heroes that counter Ancient Apparition: Skywrath Mage, Jakiro
Lina
Zeus
LeshracPipe of InsightTeam-wide magic shieldEspecially vs heroes that counter Ancient Apparition: Skywrath Mage, Jakiro
Invoker
Earthshaker
Queen of Pain
Heaven's HalberdDisarms right-click carries
Phantom Assassin
Troll Warlord
Juggernaut
Ursa
Sven
Slark
Faceless Void
Drow RangerAeon DiskSaves you from burst and single-target combos
Legion Commander
Lion
Alchemist
Necrophos
Huskar
Lifestealer
Morphling
Abaddon
Oracle
Undying
Io
Dust of AppearanceReveal invisible heroes
Riki
Clinkz
Bounty Hunter
Weaver
Nyx Assassin
Mirana
Templar Assassin
Treant Protector
Sand KingSentry WardReveal invisible heroes and deward
Pudge
ClockwerkLotus OrbReflects targeted spells and dispels
Doom
Bane
Shadow DemonWhy players lose on Ancient Apparition
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 0Not enough analyzed Ancient Apparition matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Ancient Apparition?
Ancient Apparition loses most often against Snapfire, Largo, Tusk. What to build and how to play vs them →
What is Ancient Apparition's win rate?
In public matches — 51.4%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Ancient Apparition?
In the mid game players most often buy Arcane Boots, Staff of Wizardry, Glimmer Cape. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
